HAPPY NEW DAY

We wake up tomorrow to a brand new year.

Oh yeah, we greet it with all the fireworks and enthusiasm our holiday-fired-up bodies can muster. But really, for many, "2013" will just be another number, a phantom if you will.

Consider: Many lying in hospitals or their death beds may not even see the sun rise tomorrow. One may be up and about today, feeling on top of the world, but will he be around for the roll call tomorrow?

Yesterday, today, tomorrow--- that I can grasp. Yesterday is gone but as I woke up today, yesterday was just a memory. Today is right here, right now, and this is where I have every chance to fulfill something---whatever! But tomorrow is something else---if, and that's a big if, I ever wake up.

That's why, to me, the concept of a new year is really just a blur. Nice to imagine what it holds for me, but nevertheless, iffy.

No wonder the bible tells us to consider each day, not this new year, as the day, the chance, the opportunity. Maybe the only day left to do one last good!

Psalms 118:24: "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Today is a good time as any to appreciate our blessings, our loved ones, the fact that we still have breath and the strength to do the Father's will and purpose, because tomorrow may never come.

So be thankful now, be glad now, rejoice now! Send those flowers now. Say "I love you" now. Write that book now. Pray for someone now. Be reconciled now. Give now. Repent now. Choose life now. Know Jesus now. Be ready to face Him now.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Being hopeful about the new year is great. Planning to do this and that, or taking steps to be in a certain place or position next year is a mark of wisdom---and God has given us a good measure of that; but today is what matters---while he faithfully sends us new mornings.

Great is His faithfulness every morning: New mercy, new grace; and with these, fresh hope, fresh faith. 

Today, Jesus makes everything brand new, even our hearts. 

Ezekiel 36:26: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." (Hebrews 4:7)

Photo credits: 1. cloudtimes.org  2. gentleshepherdbaptist.blogspot.com                                                 3.footprintsfromthebible.blogspot.com  4. allaboutflowers.com